Behind the Fur

It’s my pleasure to introduce you to our most popular family members, our golden retrievers, Milli and Knox. These two pups are more than just pets, they’re part of the heartbeat of our home, and like most Goldens, they know how to steal the spotlight and your snacks!

They may share a breed, but these two couldn’t be more different in personality, coat type, and care needs. Over the years, we’ve learned (often the hard way) what works for goldies and what absolutely doesn’t. Today I’m pulling back the curtain on our full golden grooming routine: the products we swear by, our schedule, and a few lessons learned along the way.

Meet the Golden Girl and Boy: Milli & Knox

Milli is our 8-year-old field red golden. She’s sweet, calm, full of love and snuggles, but don’t let that fool you, she’s also the biggest water baby of the bunch. Despite being a field-type Golden, she acts more like a lap dog than a hunting dog. Unfortunately, Milli suffers from chronic skin allergies, so we’ve had to get very intentional about what goes on (and in) her body. From soaps to special foods (zero chicken) to supplements, we’ve tried it all.

Knox, on the other hand, is our almost one-year-old fluffball. He’s technically a “show golden” (though we’ve never taken him to a show), and let me tell you, his coat is a glorious, flowing mane of golden glory. Think Fabio, but furrier and with more wiggles. He’s full of puppy energy, charm, and an occasional muddy paw print on the (white - what was I thinking) couch.

Our Bathing & Grooming Routine

Let’s be honest, keeping goldens looking and smelling fresh isn’t for the faint of heart. That fluffy coat can go from photo-shoot ready to country-dog dirty in a heartbeat. Here’s what we’ve learned about maintaining our pups’ coats and keeping them healthy in the process.

Bath Time: Products That Work

For Milli’s sensitive skin:
After trying dozens of shampoos (including several vet-prescribed options), we finally found a winner (drumroll, please) Coat Defense. It’s gentle on her sensitive skin, helps reduce yeast flare-ups, and leaves her coat baby-soft. It doesn’t have a strong scent, but I’ll trade perfume for her comfort any day.

We also use Coat Defense Powder as part of her post-bath routine and as a dry shampoo when needed. It’s amazing for preventing ear infections, which Milli is prone to thanks to her love of water and our inability to not let her enjoy it.

For Knox’s luscious locks:
Knox has that long, silky show coat that looks beautiful but is an absolute tangle magnet. Our current favorite for him is the Floof by Brodie shampoo and conditioner combo. The scent is divine, the detangling power is strong, and his coat stays soft and shiny longer between baths. The pump bottles can be a bit finicky, but it’s worth it for how clean and manageable his coat becomes.

Drying: A Game-Changer

If you’ve ever tried drying a golden retriever with a regular hair dryer, bless your heart (and I mean that in the most non-sarcastic way) you deserve a medal. We did it that way for years until we finally upgraded to a real pet dryer: the Shelandy Groomer Partner Pet Hair Force Dryer. Total game changer.

It’s powerful (yes, a bit loud), but it cuts drying time in half and actually feels good to the dogs. They lean into the airflow like it’s a spa day. Even our shy girl Milli, who has refused to be dried at a professional groomer and got us the boot from her monthly scheduled visits, happily accepts the Shelandy now. Just know the body of the unit does get warm if you’re doing two floofs back-to-back. So, it’s best to give it a little rest between babies. I do recommend doing his outside if you can during the warmer months because it can turn the bathroom into a fur-tornado.

Ears: Gentle and Consistent Care

Ear care is so important for goldens, especially ones who swim or have allergy issues. After each bath (or swim), I gently dry the outer ear with a cotton pad over my finger—never a swab. Then I follow up with a cotton pad dampened with this vet-recommended ear flush. This keeps yeast and moisture from building up and helps us avoid those dreaded infections. We only do a full flush after swimming or bathing to avoid soaking the ears unnecessarily.

Feet, Nails & "Grinch Feet"

Let’s talk about those feet. Goldens are famous for their fluffy “grinch feet,” which are adorable until it’s a muddy day and they track the whole backroad into your kitchen. While I leave most nail trims to the vet or groomer (because I’m a bit of a chicken), I do handle foot hair myself between visits. I just wipe everything down with rubbing alcohol between babies.

I use a small trimmer (this one has been good to us and comes with a really great set of scissors and comb) to clean up the top of their feet and around the pads (but never between the toes), which helps reduce mud, yeast risk, and general mess. I’ll also give them a quick sanitary trim between visits and when I do attempt nails, I clip just a little bit (these are good and sharp) and use the Pet Dremel to smooth the edges, since getting to an available groomer in our neck of the woods isn’t always easy.

We aim for two to three professional grooming visits a year, with home care keeping them fresh in between. Vet visits in between help us keep up with shorter nail trims, glands, and any allergy issues.

(As a side note, I do have and use these two products, which are great tools that I’m not scared of for a light trim, but I’m just scared to go too far.)

Teeth: Keeping That Golden Smile

Dental care doesn’t have to be complicated. We use simple finger brushes paired with a homemade paste of equal parts coconut oil and baking soda. It’s gentle, natural, and the pups don’t seem to mind it. It’s best to brush a few times a week and keep dental chews on hand for maintenance.

Our Bathing Schedule

We typically bathe the dogs every six weeks, more often if needed (which, it happens when you live in the woods with two water and dirt-loving goofballs). Whether it’s rolling in who-knows-what or charging through a muddy trail, Milli and Knox always find a way to keep us on our toes. But they also love their life as house babies. After a good scrub, snuggle, and snooze on the couch, you’d never guess they were playing swamp monster an hour earlier.

Final Thoughts

Keeping golden retrievers looking (and smelling) good takes patience, love, and a whole lot of towel laundry. But with the right tools, a little strategy, and a lot of trial and error, we’ve found a routine that works for our very different, but equally lovable, golden pair.

If you’re a fellow golden owner, or just thinking of becoming one, I hope this routine gives you a helpful starting point. Every dog is different, but one thing’s for sure… a clean golden is a happy golden, and a happy golden makes for a happy home.

A Little Note:

I am not sponsored by any of the brands or companies mentioned in this post. These are just the products that have worked well for our family through years of trial and error. However, I am an Amazon affiliate, which means I may earn a small commission if you purchase products through some of the links I share at no extra cost to you.

Your support helps keep this blog going and allows me to continue sharing the things we love most about life, family, and furry friends. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

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